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Ihc ^ation'si Hangct and the Hatiott'is Hutvj. 




A SERMON, 



PREACHED IN ST. JOHN'S PARISH, PASSAIC, NEW-JERSEY, 
ON SUNDAY .AFTERNOON, APRIL 21st, 1861. 



KEY. M. B. SMITH, A.M., 



HECTOR ELECT. 



r»RTjsrT'iT;r) b y request . 




NEW-YORK : 

JOHN A. GRAY, PRINTER, STEREOTYPEK, AND BINDER, 

FIRR-PROOF BUILDINGS, 

CORNER OP FRANKFORT AND JACOB STREETS. 



1861. 




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Site fatw's iangw anil th« fation'is gutg. 



A SERMON, 



PREACHED IN ST. JOHN'S PARISH, PASSAIC, NEW-JERSEY, 
ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON, APRIL 21st, 1861. . 



EEY. M. B. SMITH, A.M., 



RECTOR ELECT. 



FRUSTTli;!) B Y REQUEST 



NEW-YORK : 

JOHN A. GRAY, PRINTER, STEREOTYPER, AND BINDER, 

FIRK-PROOF BDILDINOS, 

CORNER OF FRANKFORT AND JACOB STREETS. 

1861. 



'm 



THE 



NATION'S DANGER AW THE NATION'S DUTY. 



"0 THOU sword of the Lord, how long will it be ere thou be quiet? Put 
up thyself into thy scabbard, rest, and be still. How can it be quiet, seeing 
the Lord hath given it a charge against Ashkelon, and against the sea-shore ? 
There hath he appointed it." — Jeremiah 47 : 6, 7. 

To the devout Christiau heart there is nothing more 
revolting in the history of a nation's life than war. It 
is one of those calamities which all should devoutly 
pray to have averted. The history of war is a record 
of cruelty and evil over which the Christian reader in- 
stinctively shudders as he reads. Its horrors are por- 
trayed in vivid colors in the word of God, and uninspired 
history is tinged with its bloody stain. What Christian 
is there here to-day, or who is there in all the host of 
God's elect — be he a member of whatsoever branch of 
the Church visible and catholic — who is not ready, in 
view of this calamity, to use the language of the first 
clause of the text : " thou sword of the Lord^ hoio 
long will it he ere thou he quiet f Put iip thyself into 
thy scahhard^ rest^ and he still f Brethren, we should 
all devoutly pray for the advent of that day of mil 



4 THE nation's danger AND THE NATION'S DUTY. 

lennial peace and glory, long ago predicted by the pro- 
])liet of Israel, in which " Nation shall not lift up a 
6-H)o?'d against nation^ neither shall they learn war any 
niorey (Micah 4 : 3.) Yet, abhorrent as war may be, 
and no doubt is, to each one of us, there is little doubt 
that it often is, in the hands of God, a mighty instru- 
ment for eifecting his sovereign purposes in the world. 

If you demand the proof of this, I point you to the 
history of Israel — the Church of the Old Testament ; 
the history of the reformed churches of continental 
Eui'ope ; the history of our o^vn nation and of Italy, so 
long the slave either of civil despots or of a corrupt 
and overbearing and exacting hierarchy. In all these 
struggles the hand of God has been seen too clearly to 
admit of doubt on the part of the God-fearing student 
of history. War is, we admit, a fearful alternative; 
yet, terrible as are many of its fruits, its results for 
good often far exceed its cost. 

With true Christian feeling, we may recoil from such 
an issue. We may command the sword to return to its 
scabbard ; yet, brethren, may not the question be asked 
of us as it was of Israel : " Hoiu can it he quiet^ seeing 
the Lord hath given it a charge against Ashhelon^ and 
against the sea-shore .^" We may say, when we hear of 
the coming contest, " Hest^ and he still ;" and yet the 
voice of inspiration speaks to us as it did to Israel, and 
declares : " There hath He appointed HT 

The fact can no longer be concealed, that we are 
living in troublous times ; times in which government 
is looked upon as a mere figment, and governors as 



THE nation's danger AND THE NATION'S DUTY. 5 

creatures to whom none are accountable. Tlie great 
trutli so solemnly enunciated in Holy Scripture, tliat 
" The powers that he are ordained of God^'' (Kom. 13:1,) 
seems, as far as many are concerned, to have lost its 
place in the galaxy of divinely inspired axioms. The 
sublime idea of the ruler as God's civil representative, 
and minister for the terror of evil-doers and the praise 
of them that do well, as the Christian minister is God's 
reprensentative in things spiritual, has been so frittered 
away, that all reference of human authority to the great 
Giver of this power to govern is forgotten. 

The right of rebellion, which all history and all time 
have conceded to the down-trodden and the oppressed, 
is now claimed by those who have suffered no wrong, 
have been subjected to no oppression, and whose chief 
aim is to fasten upon the world, for all generations, a 
system which has no warrant in Holy Scrij^ture, and is 
alike repugnant to elevated sentiments of humanity 
and to the spirit of our blessed religion. 

I have seldom introduced such topics as these into 
the sacred desk, and for this reason I feel assured, my 
dear people, you will tolerate them on the present oc- 
casion, and will acknowledge with me, that in such a 
crisis as the present an occasional digression from the 
ordinary routine of pulpit instruction is not only war- 
rantable, but proper and necessary. Whether the 
ministry do or do not touch upon these topics, the peo- 
ple will. It' will be tiaa?- all-absorbing topic. And 
since such will inevitably be the case, it is the bounden 
duty -of the pulpit to give a right direction, if possible, 



6 THE nation's danger AND THE NATION'S DUTY. 

to public feeling, and to utter no uncertain sound, in 
treating of sul)jects which relate to tlie very existence 
of the nation and the rights of the human race. 

And what, brethren, are the causes of this unwonted 
interest on subjects which too frequently are overlooked 
by the thoughtful and serious, and abandoned to poli- 
tical tricksters and time-servers ? The rightful au- 
thority of government — that authority which, for 
nearly eighty-five years, has, under the blessing of 
Almighty God, been giving to this land security, pros- 
perity, and influence, and made its name to be feared 
and honored abroad — that authority which was esta- 
blished by a lawful opposition to foreign aggression, 
and by the l^lood of our illustrious fathers — that au- 
thority is to-day contravened and trampled upon. The 
flag — dear to every patriot — which represents that 
authority, and is its symbol, as the cross is the symbol 
of Christianity — the flag which floats alike over the 
bark which bears to and fro the riches of commerce, 
and over the peace-freighted vessel which carries to the 
heathen the noble missionary and the blessed Bible — 
that flag is dishonored, and in its place the flag of the 
traitor and the rebel floats boldly and shamelessly in 
the winds of heaven. 

And who are they who are thus defying divinely or- 
dained rulers, and rending the flibric of government as 
though it were a thing of yesterday ? Are they foreign 
mercenaries, or men of foreign blood and language ? 
No ! They are our own kinsmen ; one v^ith us in his- 
tory, blood, and language. Are they the down-trodden 



THE nation's danger AND THE NATION'S DUTY. 7 

and the oppressed, who claim the right of tlie oppressed 
— rebellion under oppression ? No ! You will all 
agree with me when I say, that not one act of oppres- 
sion has been committed against them, which, in the 
sight of an honest man, yea, more, in the sight of a 
holy God, can for one moment justify them in pursuing 
a course which may prove their own destruction, and 
will prove a source of weeping and lamentation' 
throughout the land for many years to come ; a course 
which will arrest the progress of religion at home, and 
the work of evangelization abroad. It seems as though 
the words of God's prophet were dictated with refer- 
ence to us, so applicable are they to our case : " Tlie 
men of thy confederacy have brought thee even to the 
border : the men that were at jpeace loith thee have de- 
ceived thee^ and prevailed against thee j they that eat thy 
bread have laid a wound under thee : titer e is none un- 
derstanding in himT (Obadiah 7.) Those who now 
threaten to destroy that government which our fathers 
have handed down to us as a glorious legacy, are in- 
debted to the Union for the very power which they 
wield against it. Some of the rebel States were poor 
territories, purchased mostly with Northern money and 
Northern blood. 

And what do they aim to accomplish ? What is the 
object of their revolt and rebellion \ Are they bat- 
tling for the great principles of human progress and 
human emancipation ? No ! They have but one ob- 
ject that we can discern — ^the overthrow of the national 
government, for the establishment of their favorite 



8 THE NATIONS DANGER AND THE NATION'S DUTY. 

system, wliich tlie national Congress lias always refused 
to extend. They aim at tlie perpetuation of slavery, a 
system from wliicli enlightened humanity recoils with 
abhorrence, and which almost the entire civilized world 
is repudiating. 

Fifty years ago the slave system was viewed by none 
in a higher light than that of a necessary evil, to be 
gradually removed. To-day it has, in one section of 
our country, been lifted to the singularly lofty position 
of an institution which bears the impress of Jehovah ^ 
and bearing such an impress, it must, of course, be ex- 
tended and perpetuated like other divine institutions. 

The word of God itseK is eagerly searched — not for 
the purpose of obtaining individual light on the great 
truths of redemption — but to obtain, if possible, a 
warrant for, and a vindication of, this monstrous and 
odious system. Laws and regulations in the Old Testa- 
ment, intended to limit an evil then existing, are quoted 
as though they were of equal force to-day with the 
Decalogue, which, of all the Levitical laws, alone re- 
mains in force under the new dispensation ; and coun- 
sels in the New Testament, designed to curb and check 
the evil of Greek and Roman slavery, are cited as 
though the apostles, and Christ himself, considered 
slavery man's true and normal condition. 

Con\dnced by those who thus pervert the oracles of 
God, the South rises up in rebellion against the federal 
government which has refused to give to this system 
its of&cial sanction and indorsement, and to-day is put- 
ting forth every energy to overthrow and destroy the 
work of more than fourscore years. 



THE nation's danger AND THE NATION'S DUTY. 9 

Dear brethren, in sucli an emergency as this — how- 
ever great our repugnance to war — can we conscien- 
tiously, can we as patriots, ay more, can we as Christ- 
ians, when we see the arm of the Lord made bare for 
our defense, and the sword of justice unsheathed, can 
we demand, " thou sword of the Lord^ how long will 
it he ere thou he quiet f " Can we stay the work of re- 
tributive justice, and say, " Put up thyself into thy scah- 
hard^ rest^ and he still " f 

The present is an issue not limited by opposition to 
slavery. Much as we may be opposed to that system, 
we are not to oppose it injudiciously, either in the social 
circle, in the pulpit, or in the field. On that question, 
we are not to be like those fanatics who have so long 
dwelt upon it that they can think of nothing else, and 
who have, strictly speaking, become men of one idea. 
If that question is to be involved in this struggle, God 
who " hath made of one hlood all nations of men^'' (Acts 
17 : 26,) will so link it with the conflict, that American 
slavery will forever be abolished. If God does not so 
order events, let none attempt to go before their Om- 
niscient Guide, and make it the sole point at issue. 

But, in the providence of God, we are called upon to 
be men of one idea, on the great question of the preser- 
vation of that Union which began in the prayers of 
Christian patriots, was established by the divine bless- 
ing upon patriot arms, and has been perpetuated by the 
efforts of a long succession of patriots, against whom no 
political opposition has hitherto been able to stand. 

Shall the sword be quiet % " How can it he quiet, 



10 THE nation's danger AND THE NATION'S DUTY. 

seeing the Lord liatli given it a charge against Aslikelon^ 
and against the sea-sliore f There hath he appointed it^ 
Doubtless, God's hand is in this struggle, and he will 
malie our cause his own, if we look to him for help and 
guidance. 

When we contrast the spirit, the motives, and the 
acts of the two great opposing parties, which now as 
patriots and as rebels confront each other, can we fail to 
determine which side will be favored ultimately with 
the divine blessing ? On the one side, we see calm and 
deliberate action, magnanimity, forbearance, and repug- 
nance to inaugurate the conflict ; on the other, fiery zeal, 
reckless haste, and eagerness to begin the carnage of a 
war, which promises to be behind none of the wars of 
history, or of our own day, in its fearful scenes of rapine 
and bloodshed. On the one side, only that enthusiasm 
which is the sign of a patriotic spirit, and only that 
determination which is awakened by the approach of 
invading foes, or the encroachments of rebel forces ; on 
the other, that frenzy which has been awakened by par- 
tisans and demagogues, and that reckless will, which acts 
out to-day the wild suggestions of yesterday. On the 
one side, no hatred or ungenerous acts ; on the other, 
deep-rooted animosity, and deeds of cruelty which make 
Christian men shudder. Do I di'aw the contrast too 
strongly ? Does not the press of the day — even that 
portion of it which so long favored our enemies — bear- 
out the parallels ? Whence spring feelings so diverse ? 
From what fountain do they flow ? Surely, not alike 
from God. '"''Doth a fountain send forth from the same 



THE nation's danger AND TUE NATION'S DUTY. 11 

place siueet taater and hitter T'' (James 3 : 11.) No ! 
brethren. The one side harmonizes with the princij)les 
of Christ and of his Gospel ; the other seems only to 
accord with the spirit of the enemy of souls. The one 
is likely to be honored with the divine favor ; the other 
is destined to be stamped and branded with the disap- 
proval of God. 

But some one may ask, "Can we not compromise 
this matter, and avert the fearful consequences of war ?" 
I would that it were possible. But it is all too, late. 
The government, divinely sanctioned and lawfully es- 
tablished, is the repositar of a sacred trust, which it has 
no authority to surrender, or divide with the foe and 
the rebel. It stands between high heaven and earth, 
as the civil vicegerent of the Almighty Kuler of Na- 
tions, and it dare not betray its trust or bear the sword 
in vain. It must defend its authority, vindicate its in- 
tegrity, and maintain its heaven-ordained rights, and 
that at every hazard. It must speak out as boldly in 
the time of danger, as in the time of security. Its voice 
must not die away in forbearance and in compromises, 
but must thunder in the tones of the camp and of the 
battle-field in its hour of peril. If its representatives 
fail to do this, they are unworthy of their trust, and 
should be superseded by those who will maintain — 
against every foe — ^the cause of government, of human- 
ity, of the King of kings. 

The day of forbearance and compromise has passed, 
and the government has spoken. And the people are 
speaking, too. Every man must speah. This is no time 



12 THE nation's danger AND THE NATION'S DUTY. 

for neutrality. If such a tiling ever was possible, it is 
imj^ossible now. The voice of commerce must be heard 
speaking for the interests of the nation and of human- 
ity ; the scholar and the professional man ; the artisan 
and the agriculturist ; the man of daily toils and the 
man of leisure; ay, and the pulpit too, must speak; 
and the voice must be no uncertain sound of the trum- 
pet, but one mighty voice, that shall echo throughout 
the length and breadth of the land, until every soul 
shall be alive to our danger, and glow with patriotic 
devotion to that Constitution which is the great charter 
of our freedom, and with loyal allegiance to the gov- 
ernment, which under God is commissioned to save that 
Constitution from destruction. 

But is there no alternative but war, to save our be- 
loved country ? As a Christian, as a lover of peace, I 
would there were. But war seems inevitable. Ab'eady 
it has begun. The clouds are gathering thick about us. 
The National Capital is threatened by the lawless rebels. 
The match has been applied to the train, and no human 
power can extinguish it. God alone can stay the aveng- 
ing sword, and he will do it when it has accomplished 
his purposes. 

Dreadful as is the alternative, who would not deem 
it preferable to a perpetual reign of lawlessness and 
anarchy; with no acknowledged government — no re- 
cognition abroad — no work of evangelization carried 
on — ^no security at our firesides — no light in the future 
of our country's history ? To-day, war upon our foes is 
not only justifiable but righteous. Yet in the conflict 



THE nation's danger AND THE NATION'S DUTY. 13 

there should be no desire to gratify personal revenge ; 
let no acknowledged public or private rights be inter- 
fered with. The cause of our country, and of human 
freedom, is too noble, too strong a cause to warrant the 
use of any of those base subterfuges and expedients, 
which alike merit the reprobation of Christians and of 
the civilized world. Let the same noble. Christian 
spirit which animated Washington and his compatriots 
in the earliest period of our nation's history animate 
those who engage in this righteous war, and the Lord 
of Hosts shall be with us. And "if God he for tis, who 
can be against us V But let none forget that prayer is 
a mighty weapon. Let that weapon be kept well bur- 
nished. Christian brethren, that weapon you and I es- 
pecially are called upon to wield. Let us reverently 
invoke the God of heaven, from whom cometh every 
rightful victory, and commend to him the cause of our 
beloved country. Let us j)ray that he would continue 
to bless this heritage of our fathers, which he has so 
often and so richly blessed. Let us pray for those noble 
men, who are going forth to meet the foe, that they may 
be subjects of God's converting grace, and that they may 
be preserved from the evils so often connected with the 
camp. Let us pray that these conflicts and tumults may 
soon be at an end ; and that our government may 
emerge from the cloud more firmly established than 
ever before, and be for many generations the bulwark 
of liberty and the defender of religious and social rights. 
If we pray with faith, God will hear us, and the 
sword will again rest in its scabbard, and the Lord shall 



14 THE nation's danger AND THE NATION'S DUTY, 

no more give it a charge concerning the sea-shore, nor 
appoint for it the work of destruction. 

But be assured, brethren, that that sword which 
Omnipotent Justice hath unsheathed, will not return to 
its scabbard until it has done its work fully and well, 
and accomplished every purpose of the Mighty One 
who hath given it a charge. Perhaps not till every 
oppressed son and daughter of Africa is freed from bon- 
dage, and the slave stain removed forever from the na- 
tion's character. In all our troubles let us look to God. 
Let us give our hearts to that Saviour who alone can 
make us free, and, relying on God, go forth — whether 
pastor or people — to discharge whatever duties may 
devolve upon us, as men, as patriots, and as Christians, 
and victory shall assuredly be ours. For we may con- 
fidently rely upon that Almighty arm, which has ever 
been stretched forth in the cause of truth and freedom, 
and is not yet shortened that it can not save. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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